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Toxic organic mercury compounds, especially methyl mercury (MeHg), have been responsible for severe environmental contamination. Industrial effluents of inorganic or metallic mercury are methylated by aquatic organisms leading to transfer and bioconcentration of MeHg up the food chain to fish and man. In vivo mammalian and teleostean (bony fish) models have provided useful data on mercury toxicity; cultures of animal cells have been used to investigate the toxic actions of heavy metals such as mercury. The present study was designed to determine if RTG-2 cells, a fibroblast-like line derived from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) gonads, would provide a highly controlled system in which to study the mercury-cell interaction. A mammalian cell line derived from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)2 and known to be sensitive to MeHg3 was chosen as a positive control. The specific objective was to determine the effect of MeHg on RTG-2 and CHO cell viability and ultrastructure.